US general’s killer rearrested

Authorities at the Liberia National Police (LNP) say they have “rearrested” one of four suspects who allegedly murdered a retired US general John Humphrey in 2004 at Mamba Point Hotel in Monrovia.

After re-arresting suspect Jeff Williams on the night of Wednesday, 14 June at an entertainment center in Monrovia, the police told journalists on Thursday the suspect was among four men that allegedly murdered a US security general about 13 years ago.

Having previously made alleged confession to a police investigation that followed the murder incident and sent to court in 2004, police authorities say suspect Williams was undergoing trial when he and other inmates broke jail a year later and absconded prison.

At least one of those involved in the killing of Gen. Humphrey has died, according to police, though they did not speak to cause of death. The key suspect in the case named “Bai T. Moore” remains on the run.

“No one in this country will commit crime and go with impunity”, police spokesman Sam Collins told journalists at the Police Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Monrovia Thursday.
The police spokesman recalls that in 2004, Liberians woke up to the news of the murder of the late American retired general John Humphrey.

Besides being allegedly murdered, he says investigators also established that retired general Humphrey’s laptop and other important documents were taken by robbers.During the time of the investigation back in 2004, Mr. Collins says the now rearrested suspect Williams was arrested along with one Michael who is currently in jail, Bai T. Moore who is still on the run and another person called Charles, who died at the Monrovia Central prison where he was serving his sentence.

The police say since 2004, they have been doing all they could along with INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) to make sure that the perpetrator of Gen. Humphrey’s murder be brought to book. Suspect Williams got arrested here on Wednesday night after police intelligence received information and moved to a local entertainment center.

He made mention to you that he was released from the Monrovia Central Prison; we categorically dismiss this. If you can recall there was a jail break at the Monrovia Central Prison and he was one of those that escaped from the Monrovia Central Prison”, Mr. Collins says. He adds that suspect Williams and others took advantage of a riot staged at the prison compound by inmates and police have been hunting for him since then.

By Winston W. Parley-Othello B. Garblah